Chiefs and Attacking Defense Return to Practice

Team's edge rushers to have vital role during the 2013 sesason

The Kansas City Chiefs defense is new, complex and more or less, attack-mode; it's also fun to watch.

The moment Chiefs defensive coordinator Bob Sutton was hired, there was an aura about him and the system he has since implemented. It seems most appropriate to have coach Sutton define the new scheme that Chiefs fans will come to know and love, beginning as early as training camp, if not already.

“It’s based out of 3-4," coach Sutton shared after a team OTA.

"That’s the personnel that we select off. We’re more multiple than just 3-4, without much imagination. We try to do a lot of different things that encompass the same kind of techniques and adjustments, particularly for the up-front guys. It goes on as we get into the sub and the third down, we have some more multiple things, pressures, etc. that we try to do. I would guess you’d say it’s multiple in nature, but it’s based out of a 3-4 personnel.”

During my first sit-down interview with coach Sutton, he was already aware of the Pro Bowl talent he was inheriting, including Chiefs LBs Tamba Hali and Justin Houston.

"The two edge guys are guys that have a chance to be really special players and they’re working really hard on learning the entire defense and they obviously have great pass-rush ability," coach Sutton said.

"I think both Tamba and Justin are really working on their coverage and their drops and all the other things that go into it, so, I’m really pleased with those guys. I think we’re blessed with some really good talent on the edges there, which really makes any defense much more difficult to handle."

One of those "edge guys", Justin Houston was recently recognized as one of the NFL Network's Top 100 Players in 2013, proving that others around the league see the same type of talent in the third-year player from Georgia.

"It means a lot," Houston said of being ranked 49th. "It means a lot of guys in this league think a lot about me and think I have a lot of talent and that I'm a pretty good player."

One thing Houston wasn't asked during the show was who/what he attributes his personal success to.

"I have God-given talent and when I put that with my work ethic, great things happen," Houston told me.

Since the end of last season, the former Georgia Bulldogs LB said he has five personal goals that he plans to achieve in 2013; while choosing to keep the goals to himself, Houston was willing to share what he's doing now to accomplish them.

"Working out like crazy," Houston said. "I'm working out three times a day."

The Chiefs begin their first of three practices this week, later this afternoon, before a break and then the start of training camp in late July. The Pro Bowl linebacker stressed the significance of these final three workouts.

"It's very important," Houston said.

"Not only just getting better in technique, but knowing what to do and being perfect in the defense; we've been putting in a lot. I've seen it a couple times and now it's time to go out and execute well, without making any mistakes."

Before ending in the interview, Houston shared his thoughts about the 2013 season.

"I'm very excited," Houston admitted. "This defense is an attack defense. We're doing a whole lot of attacking, instead of sitting and reading (the offense)."

Along with the offense and special teams, the Chiefs defense will take to the practice field at 1:45 PM CDT today, likely flying around and making more plays, foreshadowing what's to come in the year ahead.